Automatic fire-extinguisher.



H. W. MEYER.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26. m2.

1,11,254. Patented Apr. 4, 1916. &

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS HENRY W. MEYER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTING'UISHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 119%.

Application filed February 26, 1912. I Serial No. 679,847.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, HENRY W. MEYER, a citizen of-the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county 'of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Fire-Extinguisher, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. This invention relates to automatic fire extinguishers and has reference more particularly to a fire extinguisher provided with a nozzle having a controlling valve and arranged to discharge a stream in apredetermined direction, and means for operating the controlling valve automatically from a remote point in the direction toward which the stream will be discharged from the nozzle.

The invention also relates to the aggregation of a plurality of nozzles in a central location, each operated and controlled as described above.

The inventionfurther relates to an automatic valve which comprises a body constituting a fluid passage for the escape of a fire extinguishing fluid and having an outlet, a removable closure for the outlet and automatic releasable means gravitationally operable to displace the valve outlet closure.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient automatic fire extinguisher which is automatically operable at predetermined temperatures, in which the employment of a large number of automatic sprinklers at different points of a room or other inclosure can be obviated, which insures efficient distribution and spraying of' the fire extinguishing fluid, and inwhich an automatic valve is employed of simple and efiicient type. a

Afurther object is to provide an efficient automatic valve which can be employed with fire extinguishing systems of different kinds, which cannot easily become clogged by dirt, dust, or the like, whichwhen released instantly permits the fiuid to escape, which provides means for eificiently spraying the fluid as it escapes, and which can be easily resetafter the necessity for its use has ceased. v

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a portion of a building showing an embodiment of my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlarged scale showing the automatic valve which I employ and illustrating further a modified form of heat releasable means for controlling the automatic valve;'Fig. 3 is a similar view of the valve showing certain of the parts in different positions; Fig. a'is an enlarged plan view of the valve closure; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a keeper constituting a structural detail of the valve; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of part of a valve closure of modified form; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the element shown in Fig. 6.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my invention, it should be clearly understood that the form of valve which I show herewith can be used not only with the present type of fire extinguisher, but with others as well. The valve is alsoparticularly useful in connection with my special nozzle and control arrangement, in which a plurality of nozzles are located at a central point, and each is arranged to discharge a stream in a predetermined direction, from which direction it is controlled and operated. In this Way is obviated the provision of a large number of nozzles distributed throughout a room or other place, notwithstanding that a stream of fireextinguishing fluid can be directed to every part of the space and can be controlled from that particular part. Y

My fire extinguisher comprises one or more units each of which includes a number of automatic valves. This number can be varied as necessary or desirable.

Certain of the details of construction disclosed in the present application form no part of the invention and can be varied in accordance with individual preference and special conditions without departing from the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown, for example, a wall 10 and'a ceiling 11 of a building in -which my fire extinguisher is installed. The extinguishing system includes suitable vertical pipes 12 and horizontal'pipes 13 for dis tributing water or other fire extinguishing fluids. The pipes may be controlled by means of valves 14 if so desired. Each unit of my fire extinguishing system consists of a globular, preferably spherical, hollow at predetermined temperatures they will melt to release the valve operating devices. Consequently if the temperature in a building at any point rises to a dangerous degree, and therefore indicates a conflagration the valves are automatically opened to permit the escape of the fire extinguishing fluid.

Each valve 17 has a body 21, one end of which is threaded and fitted into a correspondingly threaded opening 22 of the head 15. The body is hollow and has a fluid passage 23 through it. At the outer end the body has 'a laterally extended and threaded neck 24 upon which is screwed a correspondingly threaded ring 25 of a frame 26. The latter extends outwardly from the .body at the upper portion of the same .and has a downwardly disposed part 27 provided with an enlargement 28. a The passage 23 of the valve has at the outer end an annular enlargement 29 constituting the outlet of the valve.

I provide a closure for the valve consisting of one or more disks 30 and 31. positioned within the annular enlargement at the valve outlet and obstructing the passage. These disks are fashioned of any suitable material, such as rubber, lead, indurated fiber, or the like. Positioned within the frame is a displaceable closure element consisting of a cross-shaped member 32 having a vertical arm 33 received in a socket 34 formed at the under side of the frame 26. The member 32 has a normally horizontal laterally disposed arm 35 provided with a recess 36 in the end. This recess receives the correspondingly tapered extremity of a threaded member 37 adjustably mounted in the correspondingly threaded opening of the frame enlargement 28. Opposite to the arm 35 the said member 32 has a lug 38 received between the sides of a bifurcated pin 39 having a tapered or pointed end engaging the outer disk 30 of the disks obstructing the valve passage. The pin 39 is pivotally associated with the member 32 by means of a suitable rivet 40, or the like. It will be understood that the displaceable member 32 can be omitted and any other element capable of the same use can be substituted therefor.

At the under side the member 32 has an .nection, and the tie member.

' extension 41, to which is secured a normally depending rod 42. This constitutes a guide for a sliding weight 43 having a transverse opening 44 by means of which it ismovably mounted upon the rod. The weight is preferably spherical in form. The rod at the lower end has an enlargement 45, constituting a stop to limit the downward movement of the weight. A keeper 46 is pivotally mounted between the lugs 47 of the frame, and has a 'slot 48 through which the rod' 42 extends. It serves a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modified form of heat-releasable means for the fire extinguisher, Which comprises a cup 49 secured to the ceiling by=means of a screw 50, and having therein a fusible plug 51 mounted in position by means of the screw. The weight 43 is held in a normal position by means ofa hanger 52 secured by means of an eye 53 to a connection 54 held in a screw-eye 55 by means of a tie member 56 connected with the fusible plug 51. If the temperature riss so that the plug is melted, the Weight 43 is set free to move downward upon the guide rod 42, carrying with it the hanger, the con- The weight moves downward until it engages the stop 45. The impact at once causes the valve closure to be released as is shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the member 32 is displaced'the pressure 6f the fluid behind the disks 30 and form of a valve closure member corresp0nding to the element 32. The modified device consists of a cross-shaped member 57 having a normally horizontal arm 58 adapted to engage the'member 37 and upwardly and downwardly extending arms 59 and 60 at an acute angle with the arm 58. This arrange ment permits the guide rod and associated parts to hang vertically despite an angular position of the valve itself such that the arm 58 is not horizontal. This angular arrangement is at times necessary owing to the globular or spherical form of the sprinkler head. The arm 59 at the upper end has a yoke 61 which engages part way around the frame of the valve instead of being disposed in a socket as is the case in the first described discharge a stream in a predetermined direction, a device controlled by the surrounding temperature for operating said valve located at a point remote therefrom in the direction toward which said nozzle directs its stream, and means for operatively conmeeting said valve and said device.

2.1%. fire extinguisher, comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged in positions substantially close together and each arranged to discharge a stream in a predetermined direction, each of said nozzles having a valve.

- controlling it and a plurality of devices consurrounding temperature for controlling said valves, said devices being located at .points remote from said head.

4. A fire extinguisher, comprising a globular head-having a plurality of nozzles dis tributed about it and each arranged to discharge a stream in a predetermined directionand each having a controlling valve, a source of fluid supply connected with said head, and a plurality of devices controlled by the surrounding temperature each controlling one of said valves and positioned at a point remote from its valve and in the direction in which the said nozzle of said one valve discharges its stream, and means operatively connecting said respective devices and valves.

5. An automatic valve comprising a body having a fluid passage provided with an outlet, a valve positioned at said outlet to close said passage, a frame associated with said body and having a part disposed opposite to said outlet and spaced therefrom, a member carried by said part and directed toward said outlet, a jointed member engaging said member and said valve closing said outlet and positioned between said outlet and .said member and means gravitationally operable to displace said jointed. member.

6. An automatic valve comprising a body having a fluid passage provided with an outlet, a valve positioned at said outlet to close said passage, a frame associated with said body and having a part disposed opposite to said outlet and spaced therefrom, a member carried by said part and directed toward said outlet, a jointed member engaging said member and said valve closing said outlet and ositioned between said outlet and said mem er, a guide member secured to said jointed member, and a weight slidably mounted upon said guide member and adapted to be held in a normal position so that when released it can operate to displace said jointed member.

V In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of' two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY MEYER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner 0! Estonia. Washington, D. 0. 

